World Champions' Slugfest to the Finish of the Season, Ducati Secures Manufacturer's Title Tosland Takes Race One, Bayliss Makes It an Even Dozen
at Exciting Magney-Cours World Superbike Season Finale

Magney Cours, France, Oct 6-8th 2006 - The final round of the SBK World Superbike Championship at the Magney-Cours circuit in France also proved to be the most exciting as all the top Championship riders (Bayliss, Toseland, Corser, Hagas) battled to gether for the lead in both of the day'ss dramatic and exciting races. In Race One it is was James Toseland (Winston Ten Kate Honda CBR1000RR) emerging as the top rider in the first 23-lap contest. When he took an eventually safe third place in Race Two, he ensured that he would finish second in the overall championship. He has now scored three race wins in his first season on the CBR1000RR, and was only one place from winning pole at Magny Cours, after a strong showing throughout regulation qualifying.

In Race Two, Toseland led for the majority of the contest, which was a three way fight for the win, eventually taken by the new 2006 champion Troy Bayliss (Ducati Corse 999F 06), from 2005 Champion Troy Corser (Alstare Corona Extra Suzuki GSXR1000). Toseland fought as hard as he ever has in his career while leading, but once Bayliss made a pass and gapped him, he slowed to take a safe podium in third, and win his personal battle with Noriyuki Haga for overall second.

Just one week after Troy Bayliss (Ducati Xerox) clinched a twelfth Rider's title for Ducati at Imola, the Italian manufacturer concluded a perfect season by wrapping up the Manufacturers' crown at the Magny-Cours circuit in France.

James Toseland took 2nd in this year's title bout with 1-4 finishes over Nori Haga.

Preview: Bayliss Returns to Imola in Search of Redemption
Troy Bayliss (Ducati Xerox) may have wrapped up the championship itself at last weekend's Imola round but for most other riders there is still everything to play for - from the very top to the very bottom of the championship table. Bayliss, who has now scored 11 wins, is head and shoulders over the rest in terms of maximum scores, but no fewer than eight riders have won at least one race in this frequently unpredictable season. All five major global manufacturers have also scored at least one victory, proving that the combination of Pirelli's one make tyre support and evenly matched technical rules have once more delivered more than mere theoretical opportunities for all.After James Toseland (Winston Ten Kate Honda) edged out Noriyuki Haga (Yamaha Motor Italia) in each Imola race he now enters the final round in France with a slender two-point advantage. Magny-Cours was the scene of Toseland's first World Championship success in 2004, and doubtless the British rider will add that to the list of pluses as he enters the final round. Just to add more spice to the dish, each has already won a race at Magny-Cours, in the 2004 season.

In current fourth and fifth place respectively, Andrew Pitt (Yamaha Motor Italia) and Alex Barros (Klaffi Honda) have both added their names to the list of SBK race winners, and their personal battle for fourth overall has now taken on an extra layer of significance, after Barros finished first and second at Imola, drawing himself to within eight points of Pitt in the process. The Aussie rider is nonetheless on good form, having scored third and fourth in Italy, so this match-up will be one well worth watching. 2005 Champion Troy Corser (Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra) had another meeting to forget at Imola, but he will be out to show his battling qualities in his last ride for the Alstare squad this year, attempting to narrow an eight-point gap to Barros, and possibly even a 21-point margin to Pitt.

Some 25-points behind his own team-mate Corser, Yukio Kagayama (Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra) will have to pull out two special race finishes to catch and pass Corser in the final standings - but only Bayliss has won more races than Kagayama this year. His total of three victories could well be improved on in France, and realistically, one of last year's race winners, Lorenzo Lanzi (Ducati Xerox) is almost certainly too far behind to make up the 41-point gap to the Japanese. Lanzi may find the memories of Magny-Cours 2005 the spark that ignites his first full-factory season, but he has to work hard in any case to stop the two following riders, Chris Walker and Fonsi Nieto (both PSG-1 Kawasaki Corse) from re-passing him in the championship stakes. Walker will be looking to finish his season on a similar high note to his Assen race win, while Nieto goes for win number one, to follow up his podium finish in race two in Holland. Only a single point separates Walker and Nieto, who are in turn only 12 points behind Lanzi.

PRIVATE RIDERS GOING FOR IT IN FINAL THROW OF THE 2006 DICE Thanks to a grid full of competitive machines and riding talent the battle for places just beyond the fringes of the top ten will be as immense at Magny-Cours as it has been at every other race this year. Michel Fabrizio (DFX Treme Honda) and Karl Muggeridge (Winston Ten Kate Honda) are about to experience the denouement of their own Honda civil war, while Norick Abe (Yamaha Motor France) is out to leapfrog both of them. A double no-score for Ruben Xaus (Sterilgarda Berik Ducati 999) at Imola has dropped him down the order but as a former race winner in France (in 2003) he knows his way around Magny-Cours on a Ducati. Regis Laconi (PSG-1 Kawasaki Corse) is used to being the top placed French rider in SBK, but as he is currently only 15th in the championship and has never won a race in France his motivation will have a keen edge to it this weekend. The fact that he has yet to score a podium of any colour in 2006 is another unnecessary reminder to watch the number 55 Kawasaki in action at his home track.

Roberto Rolfo (Ducati SC Caracchi) has had occasional high points in his 2006 SBK rookie season, but Magny-Cours will be the final chance to end a disappointing recent run. Well behind Laconi in the current point standings, he is nonetheless well ahead of another SBK rookie, Shinichi Nakatomi (Yamaha Motor France). Despite missing some of the season, and no-scoring in Imola, Alstare Engineering Suzuki rider Max Neukirchner is overall 18th, with Petronas rider Steve Martin and the third YMF competitor Sebastien Gimbert close behind. Magny-Cours will be the final outing for the Petronas triple, and the second rider in the team, Craig Jones, who will be looking to Magny Cours as another chance to get more points on the board.

LAST RACE FOR CHILI IN SBK™
Pierfrancesco Chili (DFX Treme Honda) has now started a record 276 World Superbike races, and at Magny-Cours he will make it 278, before finally hanging up his racing leathers for good, ending a glittering career in top flight racing. Arguably the most globally popular rider in the near 20-year history of the SBK series, Chili is sure to receive an emotional send-off, irrespective of his final race or championship positions.

SUPERSPORT WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
A perfect first place for Sebastien Charpentier (Winston Ten Kate Honda) and a hardly less impressive second for Kenan Sofuoglu (Winston Ten Kate Honda) at Imola have kept the battle for supremacy in the World Supersport championship alive until the very last round of the year. With championship leader Kevin Curtain (Yamaha Motor Germany) third at Imola, he now has his lead trimmed back to 18 points overall - but is still very much in the driving seat to take his first World Supersport crown, and Yamaha's first Riders' Championship since 2000.

Another fight, for third overall, is more finely balanced, with Sofuoglu on 137 and Broc Parkes (Yamaha Motor Germany) on 129. Robbin Harms (Stiggy Motorsports) may still be looking for his first season win from what is an eminently defendable fifth overall, but this season there have already been six different race winners - the top four, plus Massimo Roccoli (Yamaha Team Italia - in overall sixth) and Yoann Tiberio (Megabike Honda - in overall seventh).

Troy's farewell race with the Number One Plate. Next season the 2-time World Champ moves to Yamaha as team mate with rival Noriyouki Haga.

Outgoing Champion Troy Corser
Puts in On the Pole at Magney Cours Finale World Superbike Magney Cours, France, October 7, 2006 - Team Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra rider Troy Corser put in a virtually perfect lap to take Superpole at Magny-Cours today. His time of 1:39.147 was over one and a half seconds inside the lap record and two-10ths-of-a-second ahead of his nearest rival James Toseland (Honda).

Corser’s team mate Yukio Kagayama suffered from wheelspin in the final part of his Superpole lap and ended eighth quickest and will start from the second row of the grid behind Alstare Engineering’s Max Neukirchner. But, like Corser, he feels that he has got a good set-up for the race and is confident of challenging for the podium. Third quickest today was Lorenzo Lanzi (Ducati), with Karl Muggeridge (Honda) completing the front row of the grid.

Troy Corser - 1st, 1:39.147: “The Superpole lap felt more or less perfect and I’m really happy to have taken it here - in the last race of the year. We’ve been in pretty good shape all weekend really and have just been fine-tuning the bike over the past couple of days. It’s always good to win Superpole and I am particularly pleased today for myself, for my mechanics and the entire Alstare crew. Last year I had to start from the fourth row of the grid here so I’m in much better shape this year! It’s going to be a long, hard day tomorrow and I’m sure that the races are going to be tough, but I want to end the season with a couple of podiums for sure - and maybe a win.”

Corser is the King of Superpole A stunning Superpole lap from Troy Corser (Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra), who had qualified fifth fastest in regulation, gave him his fourth Superpole win of the year, dropping the best SBK lap at Magny-Cours to an impressive 1'39.147. Corser has now scored 38 career Superpole victories, extending his all-time record still further. Of more significance in the shape of the 2006 championship table, perhaps, was the fact that James Toseland (Winston Ten Kate Honda) was second quickest and earned a front row start, while the man who sits only two points behind him in the championship, Noriyuki Haga (Yamaha Motor Italia), was fifth fastest and begins Sunday's races from the second row. The track surface at Magny-Cours had a chance to dry out before Superpole, after frequently changeable and often damp conditions had adversely affected final qualifying for all the riders this morning.

2005 Magny-Cours race winner, Lorenzo Lanzi (Ducati Xerox) went third fastest after an aggressive and controlled Superpole lap, allowing him the luxury of a front row start, alongside another rider on the up, Karl Muggeridge (Winston ten Kate Honda) who was fourth fastest on the day.

With Noriyuki Haga fifth, the newly crowned 2006 champion, Troy Bayliss (Ducati Xerox) was sixth, also into the 1'39s. On the Alstare Engineering Suzuki machine, Max Neukirchner jumped from 15th in regulation to seventh, and the last rider inside the 1'39s mark in Superpole. Three-time 2006 race winner, Yukio Kagayama (Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra) starts eighth, and completes the second row for Sunday's 23-lap races.With the times in Superpole taking a tumble, thanks to the adoption of qualifying tyres on a dry track, Andrew Pitt (Yamaha Motor Italia) just missed a second row start, and Fonsi Nieto (PSG-1 Kawasaki Corse), despite being the top Kawasaki rider on show, was only tenth fastest. Chris Walker, Nieto's team-mate, went 11th fastest after a typically aggressive lap, while top-placed French combatant was Sebastien Gimbert (Yamaha Motor France Ipone) in 12th place, and on the third row.

Alex Barros (Klaffi Honda) demonstrated how tough SBK is in 2006 but winning in Imola last week and only qualifying on the fourth row at Magny-Cours. Shinichi Nakatomi (Yamaha Motor France Ipone) showed what a private Yamaha could do, when he scored 14th place, ahead of multiple SBK race winner of recent seasons, Regis Laconi (PSG-1 Kawasaki Corse). The top 16 Superpole places were completed by Michel Fabrizio (DFX Treme Honda) who looked much faster on track than his eventual 16th place qualification showed him to be.

Pierfrancesco Chili (DFX Treme Honda) could not improve on his Friday time because of the poor track conditions in the second qualifying session, and thus just missed out on a Superpole qualifying time in his final SBK race weekend. He was, tantalisingly, 17th, with all riders behind in the exact same positions as they had been after Friday's first qualifying session, which was held in cold but largely dry conditions.

Haga (41) holds a brief lead over Toseland (52) Corser (1) and Bayliss.

Tosland Takes Race One, Bayliss Makes It an Even Dozen
at Exciting
World Champions' Slugfest to the Finish of the Season at Magney Cours Magny Cours, Sunday 8th October 2006 - Two incredible 23-lap races at Magny-Cours delivered a suitable finale to an outstanding season of racing in World Superbike, and it was in some way fitting that the riders who took the race wins were the riders who finished the season first and second overall; race two winner and champion Troy Bayliss (Ducati Xerox) and James Toseland (Winston Ten Kate Honda). In beating Noriyuki Haga (Yamaha Motor Italia) in each French race, Toseland finished his year ten points clear of the talented Japanese rider, in second position. A resurgent Troy Corser (Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra) battled to third and second today, and thus edged out Andrew Pitt (Yamaha Motor Italia) in the overall championship battle, 254 points to 250, with Corser fourth.

RACE ONE - Toseland Takes at 4-Way Slugfest
Race one went to second best Superpole qualifier Toseland, after a classis battle with second placed Noriyuki Haga, Troy Corser and fourth placed Troy Bayliss. A spectacular first race of the day had the four riders in the Championship fighting for the lead, and after a delayed start (due to a crash and oil spill from Ivan Goi's machine) a 23-lap slug-out went the way of Toseland, from Haga and Corser, with Bayliss just behind. Toseland's determination to score one more win shone through but Haga was the one with most work to do, as he was only 14th off the startline, setting a new lap record in his progression through the field. One of the best races of this, or any other SBK season.

Toseland owed his win as much to aggression and determination as his obviously high level of sheer riding skill, and it continued the strong form of the Honda CBR1000RR this season. Muggeridge fell after dropping back from the leading positions, while Imola race one winner Alex Barros overcame a disappointing fourth row Superpole performance to finish seventh. The race was delayed for over 40-minutes after an oil spill from a crashed rider’s machine had stopped the first leg before a lap had been completed. A full 23-lap restart was called.

Toseland was enthused by his race one win but realised that a desperate last lap in race two could have far reaching consequences for his stated aim of finishing second overall. “You could tell from the last few races that Haga and I both wanted second place in the championship badly, so it was good to take my third win of the season in race one - and I had to think about the championship placing in race two,” stated Toseland. “The racing was fantastic today and to finish the season second was our goal coming here. There was a bit of contact from time to time but we are all used to it now - we’ve been racing together for years now. I have to thank the team for all their support this year and the Fireblade is working great.”

RACE TWO - Bayliss Reconfirms his new Ttile, Toseland secures Runner Up
The second race was hardly less dramatic or thrilling than the first, with Toseland led for the majority of the contest, which was a three way fight for the win, eventually taken by 2006 champion Bayliss, from 2005 Champion, Corser. Toseland fought as hard as he ever has in his career while leading, but once Bayliss made a pass and gapped him, he slowed to take a safe podium in third, and win his personal battle with Noriyuki Haga for overall second.

Bayliss pushed through late in the race, and the warring Corser scooped second, as Toseland finally eased off from the brink to take safe points and secure his overall second in the rankings. Haga could not stay on terms with the leading group in race two, and finished some 8 seconds down on Bayliss, despite showing strongly in the early laps. It was Bayliss's 12th race win in 2006. Bayliss also scored the lap record in race two, the new best in race conditions, 1'40.370.

The fourteenth Manufacturers' title in nineteen editions of the World Superbike Championship came with Troy Bayliss's fourth place at the end of a fantastic race-long battle in race 1 between the Ducati Xerox rider, Troy Corser (Suzuki), Noriyuki Haga (Yamaha) and eventual winner James Toseland (Honda). Bayliss then produced an astonishing performance in race 2 to take his twelfth win of the year after getting the better of Corser, Toseland and Haga.in another extraordinary battle.

"Actually it was a great race, probably my best race of the year" declared Troy. "It was my first time here at Magny-Cours and slowly we've been making progress throughout the weekend. We made another little change before the second race and it gave me that extra feel in the middle of the corners. It was nice but it didn't really come on until half-way through the race when I started to get a better feeling. You learn something as the race goes on and in the end I just pulled the pin and went for the win! These guys did a really good race today, it could have gone either way and I just haven't been in a race like that for a long time but I feel great and I've had a great year!"

Yukio Kagayama (Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra) looked like he would join the race one battle for the podium places but had to slow in the latter stages, finishing four seconds behind Bayliss, who was himself fourth. Bayliss, who had the bit between his teeth in the later stages of race two, eventually battered his way into the lead, but Kagayama dropped off to finish ninth, and seventh overall, on 211 points. In a disappointing day for Alex Barros (Klaffi Honda) he finished race one seventh and race two, in tenth, having had to change engines shortly before the start of race one. He missed an overall fifth place by four points - and fourth by eight points - in his rookie SBK season.

Chris Walker (PSG-1 Kawasaki) underlined his class by finishing the season as the best Kawasaki rider in the championship, in ninth, 19 points ahead of his team-mate Fonsi Nieto. Walker was sixth in race one, and eighth in race two. He could not overhaul Lorenzo Lanzi (Ducati Xerox) in the championship itself, despite outscoring him in race one, and Lanzi goes overall eighth, on 169 points.

With Nieto the last rider in the top ten, after two DNFs at Magny-Cours, Michel Fabrizio (DFX Treme Honda) made up ground to him but was 14 points shy of a top ten finish, after an 11th and a 13th. Karl Muggeridge (Winston Ten Kate Honda) was only two points from Fabrizio. Sebastien Gimbert (Yamaha Motor France Ipone) scored a season best 11th in race two, his team-mate Shinichi Nakatomi was an impressive tenth in race one. Alstare Suzuki's private rider Max Neukirchner was 12th and 14th. Local favourite Regis Laconi (PSG-1 Kawasaki Corse) was a fighting ninth in the opener, 18th and last in race two.

CHILI SAYS GOODBYE WITH A SINGLE POINT
Pierfrancesco Chili (DFX Treme Honda) scored a point in his final SBK race, after greetings and hugs from all his competitors on the startline at Magny-Cours. His 15th in race two was his first point since Brno, and the ever-popular Chili was given a rousing send-off to his new career in team management, from fans and paddock personnel alike.

SUPERSPORT WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP - Charpentier Holds on to His title
Another superb 1-2 team performance by Sebastien Charpentier (Winston Ten Kate Honda CBR600RR) and Kenan Sofuoglu (Winston Ten Kate Honda CBR600RR) delivered the 2005 champion a second consecutive title in the World Supersport division, after a dramatic afternoon in Charpentier’s home country. Charpentier and Sofuoglu dominated the race, as they had qualifying (with Charpentier on pole and Sofuoglu second) but in a safe fifth place on the second row of the grid, Kevin Curtain (Yamaha) was on course to win the title.

Any finish eighth or higher would have given Curtain the title, but he fell at post 12 on lap eight, and was thus out of the race. Charpentier then had to finish second or better to overturn Curtain’s 18-point pre-race lead and in winning the delayed 22-lap event now enjoys a final points advantage of 194 to Curtain’s 187. Sofuoglu’s selflessness gave him third overall, as he scored his seventh podium of the season, in second.

Charpentier has scored eight podiums this season; six wins, and has now made history by being the first rider to make back-to-back championship wins in World Supersport. In doing so he gave Honda and his Ten Kate team their fifth back-to-back Rider’s Championships, to add to Honda’s Manufacturers’ trophy, earned last weekend at Imola. Sofuoglu finishes his first full season in WSS racing with seven podiums and two wins.

Katsuaki Fujiwara (Team Megabike Honda CBR600RR) battled hard, after a qualifying performance of sixth, for seventh in the 22-lap race, while Yoann Tiberio (Team Megabike Honda CBR600RR) was tenth, recovering from a disastrous 20th in qualifying. Tiberio finishes his season seventh overall on 80 points, with Fujiwara 13th, on 39.

Charpentier was simultaneously exhausted and elated by his championship success, having recovered from some seemingly impossible situations - and a broken pelvis during a Brno test session in June. “When I saw number 11 was out I was not completely sure, because I know Kevin very well and he is a good rider,” said Charpentier, emotional after his title win on home soil. “Yamaha worked very hard this year and sometimes Curtain and Broc Parkes made it very hard for me. Also after my crash in Brno, it became very difficult. It was not easy to keep my body at 100%. I think my Winston Ten Kate Honda team is very strong and they have been perfect. They made a good way for me, and my team-mate made some very good results in the last few races. For me this is a fantastic day because there have been some very difficult moments this year - after the Brno injury and the German race at Lausitz. Thank you so much to Honda, because they showed that the CBR600RR has a big possibility to win.”

Kenan Sofuoglu (Winston Ten Kate Honda) was second in the race from Broc Parkes (Yamaha Motor Germany) and fourth place rider was Gianluca Nannelli (SC Caracchi Ducati).
In the championship, the final points read Charpentier 194, Curtain 187, Sofuoglu 157 and Parkes 145.

SUPERSTOCK 600 EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP
Xavier Simeon (Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra) won the final race of the year, heading off Alessandro Antonelli (Junior Team Italia Honda) by over four seconds, with Domenico Colucci (Ducati Xerox Junior Team) third. The final points in the 600 class are Simeon 221, Davide Guigliano (Lightspeed Kawasaki) 145 and Colucci 91.

Lausitz Crash Fest
Here's a great look at the first turn incident last month at the Lausitz Ring World Superbikerace in Germany which took out Troy Bayliss' top 3 championship contenders - Noriyuki Haga (41), Troy Corser (1) and James Toseland (52). Everyone did walk away, but...OUCH!Note: These stunts are being performed by trained professionals on a closed circuit race course. Do not attemp to immatate these maneuvers on your own motorcycle or on public roads. Always way the proper safety equipment. Click on each sequence shot below for a bigger, badder view.....

New 2007 GSXR1000 is almost all new, except for the basic engine package.

New 2007 Pavement Scratchers
Suzuki GSXR1000
Oct 1st - The multi-year AMA Superbike Champion just received some more Wupp Ass for 2007! The almost totally revised Suzuki GSXR gets a new chassis, brakes, susprnsion, body work and improved fuel injection. As if the competition needed it. Moredetails in: Pit Lane News: New Bikes/Suzuki

NEW RSV, FACTORY GOLDRACER
The passion and emotion transmitted by the anodised gold wheels and frame is a foretaste of the sensations you can experience riding an RSV 1000 R Factory, the world’s top supersport, created for riders who demand the best. Prestige materials and components, racing technology, the highest level of standard equipment, and manic attention to detail all come as standard.

Carbon fibre has been used for as many parts as possible, from the mudguards to the fairing. Lighter than ever before, the world’s top supersport becomes even more aggressive and prestigious. The RSV 1000 R Factory is even more exclusive, refined and competitive than the RSV 1000 R. A sheer masterpiece of refinement and control, lightness and power, the Factory is the name of the game when it comes down to uniqueness and prestige. The motorcycle is homologated to carry a passenger and comes complete with an interchangeable pillion seat and seat cover.

• The standard rear monoshock is an exclusive Öhlins Racing unit with a double chamber and precision adjustments.
• The forged aluminium wheels by OZ feature an anodised gold finish and an exclusive design with 6 Y spokes at the front and a 5 Y spokes at the rear. These wheels guarantee superior lateral and torsional rigidity and weigh 25% less in the process, giving even better handling and performance.
• Pirelli’s SuperCorsa Pro 190/55 rear tyre comes as standard, so the Factory is always ready to hit the track.
• The steering damper is another exclusive Öhlins Racing component. It features a double chamber and adjustable hydraulics to adapt handling to suit all possible riding conditions.

Aprilia performance now comes with added security. Choosing the new RSV 1000 R means enjoying the best performance available to you, and leaving your troubles behind at the same time. Because Aprilia is now offering a special 2+2 year warranty to safeguard your riding satisfaction longer than ever before. Subscription is optional. The maintenance schedule established by the plan extends the warranty up to four years. Ask your Aprilia dealer for further information.

NEW TUONO 1000 R FACTORY Limited Edition of 300 World WideWith the arrival of the new Factory version, the fastest naked on the track and the meanest on the road clearly demonstrates its racing spirit. The Tuono 1000 R Factory delivers power that is simply unthinkable for any other twin, with a chassis that is more sophisticated than ever and easily on a par with the best superbikes. The new Tuono 1000 R Factory is a truly professional machine for all those riders who demand the state of the art in technology and the absolute maximum in performance. Expert riders with a taste for the exceptional will know how to appreciate the record-beating performance of this stupendous street-fighter

A new engine, new suspension, ultra-light wheels and a host of carbon fibre components have boosted performance and reduced weight to a new record for this type of bike. As with the RSV 1000 R Factory, from which it has been derived, the Tuono 1000 R Factory is designed and built for “total ridability”, a concept that has always characterised high performance Aprilia motorcycles.

Thanks to the many improvements introduced, the Tuono 1000 R Factory sets new standards for performance nakeds. The following are the most important of its unique characteristics.

The Tuono 1000 R Factory is a special bike for special riders, people who appreciate exclusive design and build quality and who also know how to derive maximum pleasure and satisfaction from the amazing power and handling of the world’s most competitive naked. When it was first introduced, the Aprilia Tuono 1000 R set new standards for all big nakeds. Now, the Tuono 1000 R Factory has raised the bar even higher, establishing the perfect synthesis between quality, technology, and finish.

The performance of the Tuono 1000 R Factory has been boosted to record levels by adopting the same latest generation engine that powers the 2006 RSV 1000 R Factory. Now developing 102 kW (139 HP) at the crank and a maximum torque of nearly 11 kgm at only 8,500 rpm, the Aprilia Tuono R Factory is the uncontested leader of all naked twins.

Troy Corser and Noriyuki Haga sign to race for Yamaha in 2007
Oct 10th - Yamaha Motor Italia has signed Australian Troy Corser to ride alongside Noriyuki Haga in the 2007 Superbike World Championship.

The spectacular line-up demonstrates Yamaha’s commitment to a series they returned to in 2005. Haga has won races on the R1 in each season – ending the 2005 and 2006 campaigns third in the standings.

Corser is a two-time world champion with 33 race wins to his credit. He won the series with Ducati in 1996 and became the first rider to win the world superbike championship on a 1000cc four-cylinder machine last year. The Australian has competed in 250 world superbike races, more than any other active rider, and alongside Haga will provide Yamaha with an experienced and formidable squad as they look to win their first title in the class.

The first appearance of Troy Corser with the Yamaha Motor Italia squad is planned to take place in Mugello on 25th October.

Troy Corser - “I am extremely happy to have the chance to work with Yamaha. The team has lots of experience and is very professional. Nori and I get along well and I think together we will be strong in development and bike set up. I’m looking forward to riding the bike and I will be aiming to score my third world title on the R1.”

Noriyuki Haga - “I’m very happy to be staying with Yamaha Motor Italia. After two seasons together we have a very good working relationship and it was always my first choice to stay with Yamaha and continue our good work. My aim, as always, is to win the championship and I think Yamaha gives me the best chance to do it. I am looking forward to working with Troy as he has a lot of experience. We can learn a great deal from him, which will help make the bike even more competitive. We have had many great battles over the years and he is a rider for whom I have a massive amount of respect. I am sure that he will be a good team-mate - as well as one of my biggest rivals.”

Massimo Meregalli (Team Coordinator – Yamaha Motor Italia) - ”I believe this rider pairing is a dream come true for any team manager. With Noriyuki we feel that we are ready to reap the rewards of the past two years. We have learned his specific bike preparation preferences, his way of communication and his approach to races. We both share the same strong feelings and it is now time to cash in on our investments.”

“Troy is a proven championship winner and known as a highly qualified developer who is obviously very experienced. We expect him to be up front from the start. It's important for me to thank Andrew (Pitt) for all his efforts over the past two years. He did a great job, nevertheless we have chosen to go for the extra experience of Troy as a two times world champion. Particularly for his ability to set up a bike and tyre selection during the race weekend, we expect this to be a mutual benefit for both riders. We expect that Troy and Noriyuki will work together closely in the development of the 2007 bike. It’s essential to be ready from race one to go for the title with both riders”.

Laurens Klein Koerkamp (Racing Manager - Yamaha Motor Europe) - ”To have Noriyuki and Troy as team-mates gives Yamaha a very strong base for our 2007 world title challenge. Both riders are big characters in the world of superbike, who combine experience, consistency and success with flamboyance and aggression. Noriyuki is a true Yamaha man and part of the family, having already ridden three different Yamaha models in world superbike. In the third year with R1 the only objective is to be champion. Troy brings a wealth of development and bike setting up experience, that we believe will be beneficial to the whole team. He is extremely motivated to win a third title with as many different manufacturers. All in all, I believe we will have two serious title candidates who will provide an interesting rider cocktail on track and off track.”

Yamaha USA New 2007 Bike Unveilings around the USA with Factory Riders
Then unveilings of the new 2007 Yamaha motorcycles have been a closely guard Secret untit revealed here in Pit lane News. . At select locations, celebrate the occasion with Yamaha Road Race team members and former world champions. And enjoy giant Jumbotron MotoGP footage, free Yamaha hats and
refreshments. So don’t miss this rare opportunity to see, touch and throw a leg over the bikes that everyone else will be trying to catch a glimpse of all next year.

AMA AND MAZDA RACEWAY LAGUNA SECA CONSIDERING ADD'L AMA SUPERBIKE EVENT, FEWER CLASSES AT RED BULL U.S. GRAND PRIX
AMA Pro Racing press release
September 29, 2006
Officials from the AMA and Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca announced today that they are exploring the possibility of adding a stand-alone AMA Superbike event in 2007. The companies are also considering reducing the number of AMA classes involved with the Red Bull U.S. Grand Prix from four to two.

The 2007 Red Bull U.S. Grand Prix featuring the MotoGP World Championship and AMA Superbike Championship will be held at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca on July 20-22, 2007.

Kerry Graeber, AMA Pro Racing Vice President, Director of Communications said the conversations are very preliminary at this point but that the AMA and Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca would like to see both initiatives happen.

“We’re excited about the possibility of adding a stand-alone AMA Superbike event at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca,” said Graeber. I also think everybody agrees that trying to run all four AMA classes at the Red Bull U.S. Grand Prix is overly optimistic. Featuring two classes instead of four is better from a logistics standpoint and will result in a better overall show. It will also benefit our competitors with increased track time for practice and qualifying sessions.”

Gill Campbell, CEO/General Manager of Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca echoed Graeber’s thoughts. “We want to continue showcasing AMA road racing alongside the MotoGP World Championship while simultaneously creating a new AMA weekend for later in the season. We see this as the best of both worlds for competitors participating in the AMA Superbike Championship.”

No date for the separate AMA event has been determined but Campbell confirmed that the companies are looking at September. “There are a couple of weekends in September that work from our perspective,” said Campbell. “The AMA is finalizing its 2007 schedule right now and determining how those two options work overall.”

Laguna Seca Raceway has traditionally held n International Sportscar race in September, but dewindling factory race team involvement, and hence fan attendance, has Laguna exploring another motorsports event for that event time slot. It remains to be seen if a stand alone AMA National weekend at laguna, just 2 months after the MotoGP weekend, would draw a decent attendance.

The last AMA/ World Superbike weekend at Laguna Seca in 2004 only drew about 5,000 spectators. So a stand along AMA National weekend without World Superbike, 2 months following MotoGP, might possibly only draw half that number.

However, it might also offer World Superbike a better chance of returning to America if it could run again with an AMA Superbike weekend. And if AMA adopted World Superbike tecnical rules so the top American riders could race in the U.S> World Superbike round as wild card riders.

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NIETO AND LACONI RE-SIGN FOR PSG-1 KAWASAKI CORSE IN 2007Chris Walker Dropped
4 October 2006 - Imola, Italy - After scoring points in each of the two 21-lap Imola races, two of the current PSG-1 Kawasaki Corse riders, Fonsi Nieto and Regis Laconi, were confirmed as the team's riding duo once more for the 2007 season.
In race one, despite not even qualifying for Superpole due to the severity of a shoulder tendon and rotator cuff injury suffered while saving a potential high side crash in practice, Fonsi Nieto battled forward from 13th on lap one to seventh after 21-laps of intense competition in 28°C temperatures at Imola. Regis Laconi looked to be on for a top six finish until his front tyre lost grip, with the French rider eventually finishing tenth. Chris Walker had started the race from a fifth row start, to take 12th place overall.

In the second race, Laconi was the team's highest scorer, taking his second tenth place of the day, with Nieto 13th - and in greater pain - and Walker a points scoring 14th.

FONSI NIETO: 7th & 13th - 139 Points, 10th Overall: “It was a hard weekend for us. My shoulder was very painful and it meant that I could not brake as hard as I wanted to, as I could not support the extra force of braking very well. In race two it was my left arm that was the main problem as I had to use it so much to compensate for the other one there was just no power left in it. Added to that, I think this was the toughest race of the year for the Kawasaki. When it is up and down and stop and go we lose time, but it should be much better in the next race.”

REGIS LACONI: 10th & 10th - 96 Points, 15th Overall: “Things were going OK for me in race one until my front tyre started to lose grip and then in the last five laps I had to slow down. In the second race I put on a harder front but I made a bad start and it was difficult to pass Chris, Fonsi and Abe. Even though I tried to be fast the guys in front were too far away to catch.”

CHRIS WALKER: 12th & 14th - 140 Points, 9th Overall: “From that far back on the grid, I suppose I should be happy to get some points in race one but it was not an easy race at all. The way things were I didn't think I was going to get any points. I lost one place in the championship to Lanzi, but I knew he was going to be strong here.”

Jamie Hacking to Depart Team Yamaha USA Factory Racing to Join Kawasaki USA Superbike Team
Cypress California, October 1, 2006 -Yamaha Motor Corporation U.S. regretfully announces that newly crowned AMA Supersport and Superstock Champion Jamie Hacking has made the decision to leave Team Yamaha Factory Racing after four years on the team.

The 2006 season was one for the record books as the South Carolina rider simply dominated both the Supersport and Superstock classes on the new YZF-R6 and YZF-R1LE models culminating in national championships in both arenas.

"The entire company wanted Jamie to stay to defend his two number one plates for Yamaha" said racing Division Manager Keith McCarty. "In fact, we matched all offers on a financial basis, however Jamie wanted to move to the Superbike class and that was something we simply could not guarantee him at this point. We all wish Jamie the best for the future and the whole team will miss his tremendous on-track style, grit, and determination."

TOUGH LAST DAY AT THE OFFICE FOR PSG-1 KAWASAKI CORSE RIDERS
Magney-Cours, Oct 9th - A hard weekend in general delivered little in the way of success for two of PSG-1 Kawasaki Corse's riders, with the single best result being a sixth, despite high hopes for all when raceday dawned dry and often sunny.
In race one Chris Walker (PSG-1 Kawasaki Corse) scored sixth place, with Regis Laconi (PSG-1 Kawasaki Corse) ninth. Fonsi Nieto (PSG-1 Kawasaki Corse) fell as he battled inside the top six,

In the second race, Walker was a fighting eighth, Nieto a technical retiree and Laconi only 18th, after running on and having to restart at the very back of the field.

CHRIS WALKER: 6th & 8th - 158 Points, 9th Overall: “The second race was much better, it was just that more riders fell off in race one. I got past Kagayama and held him off all race. We were never going to win the world championship this year, but I set myself two goals - to finish top Kawasaki rider and win at least one race. I did both, so I'm pretty happy.”

FONSI NIETO: DNF & DNF - 139 Points, 10th Overall: “In the first race the rear brake was not working like I needed it to and that made me run on after touching Kagayama. Then, in the second race, the chain was jumping the sprockets, so I pulled in to retire.”

REGIS LACONI: 9th & 18th - 103 Points, 15th Overall: “In the second race I was behind Gimbert and I could not find a way past him, and then I tried again two or three times in the small hairpin. I braked late and I don't know if anyone else saw it, but I ran on and must have missed Chris by about a millimetre. I had a lot of chattering in the second race from my rear tyre so I came into change it. I need to start races closer to the front but it is my mistake. I need to qualify better."